THAILAND CENTRAL-
One of Thailand's oldest
and biggest companies, Central Group dominates retail with its luxury malls, and
is a feisty competitor in everything from fast food and convenience markets to
home goods and hotels. But new CEO Tos Chirathivat isn't content with making the
family firm Thailand's richest, he leads a third generation of executives who
want to take Central abroad and
build a global company.

WHAT'S UP
WITH DUDEISM? In Thailand, a self-style dude-ru has created an
un-religion that has attracted thousands of dude-votees in a spin-off of the
Coen Brother's cult classic "The Big Lebowski." Every year, worldwide
celebrations mark the film's March release, with White Russians and
bowling and bathrobes and
bliss.

NOWHERE
PEOPLE - The Rohingya are only one of numerous stateless people,
pushed out of Myanmar and Bangladesh, and exploited across Southeast Asia. Such
victimized peoples have little hope, yet through his documentary work,
photographer Greg Constantine gives a
voice to these forgotten people.

THAILAND'S
ENDLESS UNREST - Protests continue to rock Thailand, where a
longstanding political clash has heated up again, resulting in yet another
coup. Sadly, the troubles in the Land of Smiles are widespread and unlikely to
settle soon
in this modern Game of Thrones.

AMAZING EXPAT
ENTREPRENEUR - A self-made millionaire as a teen in Thailand,
American-born Bill Heinecke is now a billionaire and one of Asia's most
successful entrepreneurs. His business interests run from retail and restaurants to his fast-growing Anantara
resort chain. Now he's expanding to Australia, the Middle East and Africa - and
still having a blast.

BACK TO "THE BEACH" - Two decades after Leonardo diCaprio took the world on
a junket looking for the island utopia, we return to Phuket and the nearby
PPIslands, setting for much of the novel and film. Despite all the tourists and
development, Phuket and the surroundings still offering plenty of reminders of
why this was chosen for the
ultimate beach paradise.

NEW LEGENDARY SIAM - One of Thailand's most famous families, with its
quirky actors and celebrity musicians, returns to its roots and bets the bank on
a lavish new Bangkok riverside getaway. Already topping all the luxury hotel
hotlists, Forbes looks at the gigantic financial gambler, and how its
revived the Sukosol Family legacy.

THE NEXT BEACH - Phuket is overrun, Samui is increasingly swamped.
As lovers of sun and serenity keep seeking the next island in the sun, Koh Kood
has emerged as a peaceful option, where no planes land, and a lack of car
ferries means the masses give Thailand's fourth-largest island a pass. A
guide to this new
island getaway.

TATTOO YOU - Sak Yant, a graphically-stark tattoo style unique
to a swatch of Southeast Asia (and beloved by stars like Angelina Jolie), is
said by devotees to grant special spiritual powers. Filled with mysticism and
ritual, the art form is explained in two excellent new
books.

THAI RIDING HIGH - Prime
Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva came to power in Thailand
because of a coup, and has seen his rocky rule marred by violent street
protests. Yet he says the time is right for a return to democracy, and that his
party can win elections likely this summer. He talks to Ron Gluckman about
censorship, Thaksin, Red Shirts, nuclear power and
rock 'n' roll in an exclusive interview.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF A BUDDHIST KIND - With
millions of followers, and temples around the globe, Dhammakaya has become not
only Thailand's biggest, but one of the world's largest and most flamboyant
religious groups. Yet, despite mass ceremonies for a hundred thousand monks or
more, at a gold-domed temple looking like a UFO, little is known of this temple,
even in Thailand. An exclusive look inside
Dhammakaya temple.

CHILLING IN SOUTHERN THAILAND -
Looking as cool
as a Finlandia martini, Aava resort is turning
serene Khanom Bay into Thailand's newest beach hotspot. In
the process, this stylish new resort is attracting many to a
new stretch of southern Thailand.

GETTING STONED - Director Oliver Stone is back in
great form with several controversial pictures this year included the heralded
sequel to "Wall Street." In a series of exclusive interviews, he sounds off on
Presidents Obama and Bush, America's policies in Latin America and Cuba,
Buddhism and runaway greed, and more.

CAPITAL GETAWAY -
Nestled in the Chao Phraya River, only 20 minutes from
central Bangkok, is Bang Kra Jao, one of the world's largest and most surprising
stretches of near wilderness; even most Thais have never visited. Western cities
boast big central parks but none can claim such a large urban oasis,
Bangkok's Great Green Lung.

BILL'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE- From Asia's youngest self-made millionaire,
American-turned-Thai magnate Bill Heinecke has matured as he built an empire
that spans retail, resorts and restaurants. His business has taken some hits,
particularly with the downturn in Thai tourism, but this upbeat entrepreneur
just keeps finding
new opportunities for expansion.

ELEPHANT POLO - Every year, in the North of Thailand, and in Nepal and
Sri Lanka, a horde of massive mammals and riders face off in mock battles,
wielding mallets, and wowing crowds. It's painfully slow, undeniably silly, and
bears scant resemblance to sport, but it raises awareness and money for
Asia's embattled elephants.

KO LANTA - Samui and Phuket get all the attention, and most of the
tourists, leaving Ko Lanta, Thailand's third largest island in a sleepy, serene
state, which isn't a bad thing. But, with the country' s largest Muslim
population, vast rubber plantations and stunning beaches,
Lanta's idyllic secret is slipping out.

TRENDY THONG LO - In
the north of Thailand's capital, a collection of cool bars, boutiques and
restaurants, plus a unique style of minimalist design malls has lured all the
local hipsters to what is increasingly renowned as one
of Asia's hippest districts.

REMAKING MALLS SMALL - Most
of the world's biggest shopping malls are under construction in Asia, where the
byword seems to be the bigger, the glitzier, the better. But a new style of
minimalist, well-designed mall has found success in Bangkok, and could redefine
shopping across Asia.

NUCLEAR
GLOW -Asia
is buzzing about the potential of nuclear power, amidst concerns over global
warming and energy security. Plans for numerous plants across Southeast Asia has
led to a revival of the nuclear industry, and renewed protests from critics.
Thailand is leading the way in
the new nuclear charge.

MR
CONDOM -Once
one of the world's AIDS hotspots, Thailand turned a corner, taking safe sex into
the bars and red-light districts of Asia's sin city. Much of the success is due
to a string of restaurants, Cabbages and Condoms, and the tireless health
education professional Mechai Viravaidya, Thailand's
Mr Condom.

BEST
OF BANGKOK -From
riverfront restaurants, perfect for watching the boats and barges, to the most
elegant hotels and nightclubs, Bangkok has a special buzz, and we've captured it
all for Dwell Magazine in this special guide to the
best of the city.

BANGKOK
BREATHES EASIER - Once
blighted by belching buses and thick smog, Bangkok cleaned up its act and air
over recent decades. Cutting motorcycle emissions and adding an overhead subway
helped Bangkok grow greener, and a model for the
rest of Asia.

BUILDING
A BETTER GARDEN OF EDEN - When
Asian resorts seek plush landscaping, fantasy gardens that justify prices of
$1000 per night and up (and up), Bill Bensely is the go-to guy. In demand from
Bali to Bangkok, this Harvard-educated architect has gradually gravitated from
the grounds to inside, now designing everything from resorts
to palaces for royalty.

HEALTH TOURISM -As the cost
of health care continues to soar out-of-sight in the West, plenty of patients
are coming to Asia, where they can combine sun, sand and surgery, and save a
bundle thanks to the booming industry of health
tourism.

THE ULTIMATE ESCAPE - The TV series "Survivor" chose it for a season. Previously, it
hosted a penal colony and blood-thirsty pirates. But nowadays, Ko Tarutao is a
marine park with scores of islands offering some of the best nature in Asia. You
can play Robinson Crusoe on this former Prison Island.

BANGKOK TATTOO -
Lawyer-turned-author John Burdett raised the bar for Asian novels with his
page-turning thriller, "Bangkok 8." Now, Asia's own version of John Grisham is
back, with a sequel, "Bangkok Tattoo."

SPA-TACULAR GETAWAY - Sleepy
Hua Hin, just a few hours down the coast from Bangkok, has long been overlooked
by those seeking the next beach thing. But as new hotels rise along the gorgeous
sand and top stars jet in for treatments, there is a new buzz about this sumptuous
spa retreat.

NEXT BEACH THING? - Every holiday season, sun seekers swarm
through Southeast Asia, towels and tanning lotion in hand, desperately seeking Shangri-la by the Sea. This year's
discovery might not be the next Ko Samui-wannabe but a real throwback, Hua Hin, a Thai beach
classic.

THE GREAT ESCAPE - Khao Sam Roi Yot,
Thailand's first marine park, boasts incredible bird watching, caves for
exploring and miles of untrammeled beach. Best of all, it's just a half
day from Bangkok, but remains one of Thailand's
best-kept secrets.

DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH - Nowadays tourists race past
Phetchaburi, on the way to Hua Hin and better beaches down south. Yet this
ancient city has amazing temples and perhaps the
kitschiest park, a wonderland of gardens and castles that once was the swingiest
spot in Southeast Asia.REVIVAL IN STYLE - Even a royal beach occasionally needs a
facelift. That's the indulgent idea behind Hua Hin's newest luxury hotels.

ON "THE BEACH" with Leonardo diCaprio, three different views:
Author Alex Garland explains his utopian
novel.
Making the movie was no simple stroll on
the sand, according to Trainspotting's Andrew MacDonald, producer
of the Beach They found the perfect beach upon serene Phi Phi Leh island,
but the
hip backpacker epic unleashed a storm of controversy, fan worship and
hysteria upon The Beach. Read about it in Postcards From The
Beach

GOLDEN TRIANGLE - Where have all the opium poppies gone in the
infamousGolden Triangle? Easy,
silk-screened on T-shirts for tourists, every last one. Formerly a no-man's land at the
corners of Laos, Burma and Thailand, the Golden Triangle is now a hip-hopping tourist
spot.

PAI
RIVER - Along the Burma and Thailand border, the Karen rebels get all the
attention, but the Padong tribe have traditionally had a habit of stretching out
their Long Necks.

PATTAYA - Once a picturesque resort, the Grand Madame of
Asian beach centers became a run-down smut-pit of sleazy sex tourism until rescue came from
the unlikeliest of quarters - rich Russian tourists.

RIVER BOAT - Floating the Chao Praya River has been the gateway to
Bangkok, and Asia, for scores of scribes over the years. Now, tourists can take the same
trip, in spectacular style aboard a luxuriously outfitted rice
boat.

PHOTOS: Leo from the wires;
Sukosol family from Forbes; all the
rest by Ron Gluckman